ST. LOUIS, MO (August 27, 2010) – AC St. Louis, playing in the USSF Division 2 Pro League, head for Florida this Sunday when they face off against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Kick-off is set for 5:00 p.m. CDT at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. The game can be viewed live via web streaming at www.ac-stlouis.com. The club also announced they have agreed to terms with Nicki Paterson, a 25-year old Scottish midfielder. Paterson will not be eligible for Sunday’s match in Tampa.

For AC St. Louis Head Coach Dale Schilly Sunday’s game will be his first encounter against Tampa Bay. The last meeting between these two clubs was on May 22 in St. Louis, and resulted in a convincing 3-0 win for the Rowdies. While Sunday’s match will feature a lot of the same faces, AC St. Louis is certainly a different team from the one in May. This week the club concentrated on attacking and finishing. AC St. Louis is still within reach, six points, of an eighth and final playoff spot, and they are in need of goals if they are going to secure three points.

“We have been good defensively, we have been good in midfield, and now it is a matter of putting our chances away,” concluded Head Coach Dale Schilly. “We are beginning to create those chances. We created two big moments against Puerto Rico last week that could have won the game for us. Now it is just a matter of capitalizing on those opportunities.”

Those opportunities will be critical, and AC St. Louis has found some help to generate those chances. Midfielder Mike Videira will be stationed in the center of the park as he is expected to start his second straight game. Videira solidifies the midfield, which allows wingers Luke Kreamalmeyer and Chris Salvaggione room to go forward. Dale Schilly also expects to give 16-year old sensation Luis Gil extended minutes for the first time. Gil was limited to less than 15 minutes of action in both games he has appeared in. By all accounts the young U.S. star has had a good week of practice, as has the entire team.

“We had a very good week of training. This was probably only our second week since I have been here where we have had a good four of five days of consecutive practices,” said Schilly. “We spent a lot of time working on getting forward and scoring. The emphasis lately has been to create more chances, and to put the ball away. The team keeps getting better. I hope that translates into the game on Sunday.”

Sunday’s game will be the second and final match of the year between Tampa and AC St. Louis. The Rowdies need a win almost as much as AC St. Louis does. Tampa Bay is currently one point out of a playoff position with just six games left. AC St. Louis could gain a real advantage with a win by closing the playoff gap to three points, while still maintaining a game in hand over the Rowdies. AC St. Louis has seven games remaining as they try to make up six points on the teams currently in playoff spots.

The signing of midfielder Nicki Paterson will add some depth to a roster that still has its fair share of injuries. Paterson grew up playing in the Motherwell Youth Academy in Scotland before joining Hamilton Academical of the Scottish First Division. Paterson played collegiately ay UNLV for four years, and most recently played for Real Maryland. Paterson’s contract covers the remainder of the season.

AC St. Louis returns home on Sunday, September 5, against Miami FC at 6 PM.

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